J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2003 Dec;7(4):255-268.

The Validity and Reliability of Korean Fall Efficacy Scale(FES) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale(ABC)

• Jang SN
• Cho SI
• Ou SW
• Lee ES
• Baik HW

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Korean version of Fall Efficacy scale(FES) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale(ABC) to Korean older adult through an examination of instrument`s internal consistency and validity METHOD: A sample of 90 Korean older adults who lived in a community completed a survey instrument which included Korean version of FES and ABC. Because of comparable data derived from each scale, fear of falling and quality of life, activity daily living were included. Concurrent validity, criterion validity and correlational validity were tested. Reliability was tested by internal consistency, test-retest method.
RESULTS
Cronbach`s alpha was 0.9043 in FES, and 0.99623 in ABC. Test-retest correlations in all scales were higher than 7.0. Statistically significant association was found between fear of falling and both scales. Correlation coefficient between Quality of life(SF-8) and ABC was -0.142(p=0.049). Both FES and ABC are correlated significantly each other.
CONCLUSION
The Korean version of FES and ABC appears to be a reliable and valid method for meas- uring fear of falling. These instruments may be useful in assessing the independent contribution of fear of falling. ABC scale may be more useful to detect loss of balance confidence in more highly functioning seniors.

Keyword

FES(Fall Efficacy Scale); ABC(Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale); Fear of Falling; Validity; Reliability

MeSH Terms

Adult
Humans
Quality of Life
Reproducibility of Results*
Weights and Measures